ST PATRICK’S ATH 5 DERRY CITY 2
FAGAN 13, 19, 72 BYRNE 23, HOARE 48 DUFFY 59, PATTERSON 82
IT’S BIN CITY
Fagan hat-trick helps dump Derry
By DAIRE WALSH
CHRISTY FAGAN blasted a hat-trick to send Derry City packing from Richmond Park last night.
The strugglers were hoping to build on an improved display in their 2-1 EA Sports Cup loss to Dundalk on Tuesday.
But in an extraordinary nine-minute spell during the first quarter, Liam Buckley’s champions effectively placed the tie beyond the reach of the visitors.
Neat
Lone Saints striker Fagan opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a neat finish past helpless Derry netminder Gerard Doherty following a probing run by the impressive Christopher Forrester. And just six minutes later, the Saints doubled their lead.
Former Ireland ace Keith Fahey easily dispossessed Michael Duffy in midfield.
He then sprinted towards the City goal and his subsequent pull-back was eventually scrambled home by the waiting Fagan.
This was turning into a nightmare for the travelling northerners.
And Pat’s rubbed salt into their wounds three minutes later when Conan Byrne headed home Killian Brennan’s inch-perfect corner from the right-hand side.
Even at this early point, it was difficult to see a way back for Derry.
And although Barry McNamee forced a fine save from Pat’s keeper Brendan Clarke just shy of the half-hour mark, they were 3-0 down at the break.
Coming into this game on the back of a surprise defeat to Limerick last week, Pat’s were eager to turn on the style in front of the passionate Inchicore faithful.
And they were four goals to the good just three minutes after restart.
After Forrester had been upended on the left wing by Ventre, another telling delivery from the excellent Brennan was met perfectly by centre-half Sean Hoare for his FIRST goal in the Saints colours.
It was now a case of damage limitation for Derry. But Duffy did finally give his side’s loyal fans something to cheer about on the hour with a terrific strike from distance past Clarke.
With Pat’s beginning to take their foot off the gas, Derry started to play with more confidence.
But thanks to strong work in defence by Hoare and Kenny Browne, there was never any danger of a comeback.
Path
Fagan added his third goal of the game with 18 minutes remaining when Doherty cheaply played the ball straight into his path.
And even though Rory Patterson comfortably fired home via fine Barry McNamee approach play, it proved to be a mere consolation on a night to forget for the Candystripes.
SUN STAR MAN
Christy Fagan (St Patrick’s Athletic)
ST PATRICK’S: Clarke 7; O’Brien 7, Hoare 8, Browne 7, Bermingham 7; Fahey 7, Chambers 7 (McCormack 79, 6), Brennan 8; Byrne 8, Fagan 9 (Quigley 75, 6), Forrester 8 (Lynch, 75, 6).
DERRY CITY: Doherty 7; S McEleney 6, Barry 6, McBride 7, Jarvis 6; Ventre 6 (McGovern 64, 6); P McEleney 7 (Coyle, 92), Molloy 7, McNamee 7, Duffy 7; Patterson 7 (Doyle 86, 6).
REFEREE: P McLoughlin (Donegal).